Kolkata: The nation-wide bandh called by the
Left and opposition parties against rise in prices of
petroleum products was peaceful in West Bengal, but paralysed
normal life totally.

MP Tarun Mondal along with 109 supporters of SUCI, a left
opposition party, were arrested for violating permanent
prohibitory orders in force before the Raj Bhavan, IGP (Law
and Order) S Karpurakayastha said.

The bandh was peaceful throughout the state, he said,
adding tea gardens and the IT sector functioned normally.

Though Metro Rail services operated normally in the
metropolis, trains services, including long-distance and EMU
local trains were stopped by the bandh supporters at various
stations.

Air-India operated five domestic flights, including
Kolkata-Delhi and Kolkata-Mumbai and the Kolkata-Singapore
international flight from the N S C Bose International
Airport, Airport sources said, adding private airlines did not
operate flights.

Roads wore a deserted look in the capital city as public
transports were not plying and business establishments were
closed.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was the only
minister to attend office at the state secretariat, Writers`
Buildings, where just 17 officials, including Chief Secretary
Ardhendu Sen and Home secretary Samar Ghosh, were present.

Asked if absence of employees would result in their
paycut, Ghosh said as per rules, attendance below five per
cent of total staff strength was considered a special holiday.

This was the second bandh in the state after the one on
June 26 on the same issue.

Meanwhile, the IGP said special security measures have
been taken in view of the 48-hour bandh called by Maoists from
July 7 in protest against the killing of its spokesperson,
Azad in an alleged fake encounter with the police in Adilabad
in Andhra Pradesh.